§ 12. Major Petherickasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that conscientious objectors have been ordered to run boys' clubs as a condition of their exemptions; and whether he will cause this practice to cease immediately?
§ Mr. BevinThe conditions under which conscientious objectors are exempted from military service are specified 1033 by tribunals. These are independent statutory bodies, whose decisions cannot be varied by me. I am not aware of any cases in which tribunals have ordered a man to take up work with boys' clubs, but certain men have been allowed to continue such service.
§ Major PetherickWill the right hon. Gentleman look further into this matter? Is it not absolutely scandalous, when this country has placed the obligation of military service upon all fit men, that any conscientious objector should be excused military service on condition that he takes up a post in which he has an opportunity of influencing young people against military service?
Mr. BevisI cannot interfere with the tribunals. With all the difficulties over conscientious objections, I am sure the House will agree that in this war the problem has been handled with the minimum trouble.